What Boxing Gloves To Use

A simple guide on choosing the right size gloves for the right type of boxing training—bagwork, sparring, or competing.

What Size Boxing Gloves Should You Use?

I get several emails every day asking about what size boxing gloves to wear. If you’re like me, you’ll probably use one set of gloves for everything (hitting the bags, sparring). If you’re a competing boxer, you’ll have another set of gloves specifically for fighting. The size and type of boxing gloves you use will depend on your body weight and purpose.

All Purpose Boxing Training Gloves

Just about every boxer has a pair of gloves that they use for all training purposes. When you go buy boxing gloves, you will see many different kinds advertised. The only ones you really need are TRAINING GLOVES or SPARRING GLOVES. Basically, training gloves are can be used for all types of boxing training like hitting the bags and sparring. Below are general guidelines for body-weight and size of boxing training gloves recommended.

120lbs & down (12oz or 14oz)

120lbs – 150lbs (14oz – 16oz)

150lbs – 180lbs (16oz – 20oz)

180lbs & up (18oz & up)

Sparring Gloves

Sparring gloves are basically extra-padded training gloves so that you’re not hurting your sparring opponent. Regardless of size or weight, hardly anyone ever spars with anything less than 16oz unless you’re a really small person (under 120 pounds). Theoretically, you COULD spar with 14oz gloves but then it wouldn’t prepare you for a competition fight if you compete with 16oz boxing gloves. If you weigh more than 175lbs lean muscle, you should spar with gloves no less than 18oz or 20oz. Don’t forget to watch out and make sure your opponent is not using smaller gloves than you because you will get hit harder by the unfair advantage.

There is also another common belief that you should always spar with gloves at competition weight for your weight class. If your weight class competes in 10oz gloves, then you spar with that. Of course, you have to tone down the pace so you don’t destroy each other before the actual fight. Personally, I feel beginners should use more bigger gloves to be on the safe side and then work their way down towards competition weight if they can handle it.

Competition Boxing Gloves

These are boxing gloves you use for fighting during real competition boxing events. If you’re an amateur boxer, there is an exact size specifications that your weight class will use whether it be 12oz, 14oz, 16oz, etc. In amateur boxing, your gloves have to be approved for boxing competition (for example: in the USA, you have to wear USA Boxing approved gloves for amateur fighting). Your trainer will know the correct size and specifications required. In professional boxing matches, the gloves are usually smaller. Generally, your training/sparring gloves will be heavier and thicker than your fighting gloves.

What’s the Difference Between Size And Type

A bigger glove generally has more padding. Whenever you’re training, using a bigger glove offers your hands much better protection. If you’re beating on the heavy bag, you want the best protection possible so that you’re not damaging your hands over time. Training with a bigger glove will get you more accustomed to the weight and your hands will be faster when you use smaller size gloves during competition. Sparring gloves are usually the thickest and offer the most padding. Training gloves are a bit smaller but still very protective. Bag gloves are pretty crappy and not recommended (I rarely ever see them being used.) Amateur competition gloves have good padding while professional competition gloves have less padding so you can hurt your opponent more.

My Personal Recommendations on Boxing Gloves

Avoid Bag Gloves – I don’t see the point of them. The thin bag gloves offer your hands little protection and just makes you feel good since you’re hands move faster. It’s not good to get use to that speed since you will never fight with gloves that light. (***NOTE: I’m referring to the really thin old school style bag gloves, not the new well-padded ones sold nowadays.)

Mexican Style Gloves – Smaller more compact fist for better damage. These are good for competition fighting but not very much padding for training. Again, I’m a big advocate on protecting your hands for longterm use inside and outside of boxing later in life. Avoid them during training if you can.

Brands Do Matter – Every brand distributes the weight across the boxing glove differently. Some offer more protection for your fist, others more protection for your wrist. A 14oz glove (Grant, Ringside, Rival) from a good company offers far more padding and protection than a 16oz glove from a crap generic company (Century, TKO).

Proper Fit – Make sure your gloves will fit you right WITH HANDWRAPS ON. Put on some hand-wraps and see if the gloves is snug around the wraps. Brands vary in size around your fist. Make sure you are able to make an easy comfortable fist inside your boxing gloves.

Final Advice – Go to a real boxing gym and try on different types of boxing gloves they have. Check out the shape, padding, and comfort. Go home and buy them online.

bags-wrapsgreat article. Remeber, there are all sorts of fits too (ie, snug fit), and gloves arent necessarily labeled that way. You must try them on to see how they fit. I have smaller hands, so a snug fit was a priority.

Also: Remember to always wrap your hands. If you don’t you might as well have someone run over your hands with a cement truck. I prefer mexican style wraps because I like how they strech and countour to my hands.

I do as well. Hand injuries can take a long time to heal and in my experience it didn’t take much to aggravate or re-injure. I’m 39 years old now and I can’t hit a heavybag full strength like I used to without discomfort in my hands. I can’t stress enough my personal belief in the importance of taking care of your hands: purchasing a quality glove, and a quality wrap used properly.

Johnny, I really enjoy your site, thanks for the great information. I’m sure it takes a great deal of time to maintain a site this size but the information is much appreciated, as I’ve just over the last few months been beginning as a trainer. I’ve got a lot of great info from your site.

Dont make a comment if u dont have a clue about boxing, first of all wrapping hands is neccesary at least to protect the inside of your glove!…and of course the main interest is to protect your hands even if your just training in your garage or a boxing gym!…I hate people who give their opinion about important things and they dont have a f…g clue about what they are saying! Wrap your hands people! it is a must if u really want to train as a boxer even if u do it for cardio!

I’m beginner with no intention to be a boxer, to compete or maybe even spar… I’m 30 years old and my sport is rugby. Later in life I practiced karate for several years regularly so pure basics of making a fist, arm angle or basic balance postures shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t have much time for rugby now, so I practice at home. I weigh around 250 lbs, and height 6,3 so I’m definitely a heavyweight beginner. I like short, intense training sessions for releasing great amount of energy in a short time. My weekly training consists of approximately 800-1000 push – ups, 1000 sit ups, dead lifts, mixied with burpies,and some basic rugby excersises. Pure basics and amounts are far for me to say I’m in good shape, but I’m not a slab of meat also. I’m considering to put a heavy bag in my yard, my good friend is a life-long boxer, so he will teach me basics, just enough to not hurt my hands or body. I’m a bit bored with my training so I want to put together training with push -ups, rope – skip, heavy bag combo. So, which gloves to use. I have friends really, really big heavy bag, so consider that also…

Cleto reyes are amazing gloves, I got some in 16 oz and love them. The thing is though they are a punchers glove, gloves with thinner then usual padding, these are meant to cause damage to your opponent. In return not the best protection. These are more for fighting then sparring and training. Check out Winning gloves in 16 oz for training and sparring, amazing as well just a little too much on price for me. Maybe in a year ill have some money saved to get them.

What brand/model gloves were you using? One month is way too fast for any pair of brand name boxing gloves to wear out. I’ve used Title, Rival, Grant, Reyes, Ringside. None of them have torn up…. even after 2-3 years.

help with glovesi wieht 140 and i use to train with 16 oz gloves for hitting the bag and mitts but to spar i use 14 oz gloves and after a while of using the 16 oz gloves it changed the way i throw hooks now im getting reyes safetech professinal gloves 10oz for hitting the bag . Using heavier gloves for training is great for somethings and bad for others. I think the weight of the gloves should relie on what type of training you are doing. What do you think about that ??

proper glove sizeFor sparring, the gold standard is 16oz. Well-trained guys can hit very hard even with 14oz gloves. I wouldn’t dare hit anything full force with a 14oz glove — either I hurt them really bad or I hurt my wrist really bad. Just about every gym I know uses 16oz for sparring.

Now that we’ve established 16oz to be the sparring weight, you really shouldn’t use a lighter glove since that’s not your actual sparring speed. It’s ok to use lighter gloves for a double-end bag, but for the heavy bag it’s better to have more protection for your hands. I would also recommend that you use a brand that has more padding like Ringside over a brand with less padding like Reyes.

I weigh (in fight shape not right now lol) about 150-153lbs and i definately found that for sparring with bigger guys it wouldnt be equal and i wouldnt get such good training wearing 16oz gloves if they were too. Because the glove was lighter proportional to their arm strength they woud have much better handspeed while my punches were fucking slow.

One question as well. Does the hand size S M L XL affect the amount of padding used or is it just spread out more thinly in bigger gloves? if the weight of padding stays constant wouldnt an S 16oz glove have thicker padding than an XL 16oz glove?

I’m 142lbs and use 16oz for standard for sparring. Padding can change between different models and different brands. Do your best to keep it fair and preferably more cushioned so both of you can throw harder and faster punches.

If you’re fighting bigger guys, there’s no way that will ever be a fair fight…even if you manage to compensate with different size gloves, etc.

Training GlovesI’ve used basically every brand of training, bag, and sparring glove. Right now I’m wearing 16oz Tri Techs by Fighting Sports (Find them at Title for $99). These are, by far, the most comfortable glove.

Prior to these, I had a pair of Ringside Mexican Style gloves (also cost $99) and used them well over 200 training sessions. They started to break down recently because I left them in my gym back, wet, in the Chicago cold a couple of times.

Johnny N, you should also mention in your article TAKE CARE OF YOUR GLOVES. Moisture is the main enemy to leather, not usage. Whipe your gloves off after use, get a deodorizing/antibacterial spray, some cedar bags or charcoal bags and take care of your gloves and they will take care of your hands.

Also, I’d advise against going cheap. Don’t buy a pair of fake-leather Everlast for $39 at Dick’s when you can go on Title and/or Ringside and find great deals on real gloves all the time.

Chris- sparring with 14oz Gloves (hopefully not Reyes) is the way to catch a beat down in the parking lot from a sparring partner who you accidentally cracked a rib on. The purpose of sparring is not to hurt your sparring partner, but to refine the techniques you’ve learned up until that point. I’m 135# and use 16oz as a minimum. If I am trying to power punch on a given day, I will wear 18oz and find a sparring partner around 180#.

Gloves for WomenYour article was helpful, but I was hoping you could recommend a glove for a woman with small hands. I have read everything available online, and the advice for women is limited. I am 5″3″ and 110. I need gloves for general training (heavy bag, mitt work, and cardio). I have been looking at titleboxing because they have good prices and reviews, but not sure which glove would be best for my handsize and training needs (I have my eye on the Title Gel World Training gloves but don’t know what oz!) I have asked trainers and they have told me different things. I am also not sure if the gloves listed as women’s are only listed as so because they are offered in 12 oz and have a smaller hand cage. Thanks!

For your size, I would recommend a 12oz glove. Any 12oz glove will do. You can go to 10oz if you like but I think 12oz will be good. A glove especially design for females will be built for a smaller wrist but I’m sure you’ll be fine regardless of which one you choose. Not all boxing glove companies not offer a “women’s line”.

Do you have any particular brands or models that you would recommend for general training? I’m looking for something leather and good quality that comes in a 12 oz weight. I am willing to spend a little extra for quality (I’m thinking $70 at the most). Thanks a lot–I really appreciate the insight, especially since there is less out there for women!

Glove weights in sparring vs bag. 16 oz. for sparring and 10 oz. or 12 oz. for bag. i personally use 10 oz. winning gloves for bag work and 16 oz. gloves for sparring. it’s perfect. smaller and lighter gloves for bag will help with developing a nice compact stance along with accuracy and handspeed. i don’t like big gloves on bag because they cause you to punch wide. i use pro fight gloves for the bags and ONLY if they are winning gloves because the padding is near indestructible. 10 oz. on bag can help develop power because you’re using more of your own body weight to hit the bag rather than the added weight of a 16 oz. glove pushing the bag with you. i feel more tired hitting the bag with 10 oz. rather than 16 oz. because of that reason along with the fact that my muscles are moving so fast that they are getting used to that speed. you’re muscle memory will become faster with lighter gloves. i also have 3 lbs. weighted gloves for shadow boxing so i build endurance.

Hi Jane,
If you were still looking, I really like Ringside 14 oz, super IMF tech sparring gloves. Unfortunately, as a female a lot of good gloves don’t come in 12 oz, so I moved up to 14 and it’s great.

I also see a lot of females using Hayabusa, and I can tell that they are meant for women with the color scheme. They are happy with it too.

@jane – Hey Jane, in case Cat doesn’t get back to you. I want to add that the Ringside gloves 12oz or 10oz are great for females with a small frame. All the females at our gym use these adn they love them.

Hi Johnny, Im also looking for gloves for small woman hands. My gym tells me I should have at least 16oz gloves if I want to use them for sparring. I’m not ready to invest in multiple size gloves yet, so do you have a recommendation for a glove that is 16oz but would fit small hands and work for sparring and bag work?

Hi I’ve been bodybuilding for a few years and switched to boing to lean out can you tell me a good size glove and brand I’m 245 pounds and wanna cut to a lean 215 I have been using tap out gloves for about 3 months and they are breaking down. On me.

Bag glovesWould have to disagree about bag gloves. You are right about the old style ones not offering enough protection but the modern ones do. My Rival bag gloves protect my hands just fine and I hear good things about other brands also. A good reason for having separate gloves for bag work and sparring is that the softer padding in sparring gloves can get worn down that much quicker if you use them for bag work as well!

confusedHi,, I weigh 135 lbs and I’m trying to gain 5 more so Ill be ending up at 140.. Im using 10 ounce gloves now for general training. My trainer says I should use a heavier 14 ounce glove so id get stronger but i think 14 ounce will be too heavy and Ive read in some forums that you seem to punch wide when you use heavier gloves and I dont want to be in bad form.. Im thinking of getting a 12 ounce glove but im a bit confused. some say a 140 pounder should use 16 ounce, some say 14, and others 12.. Im pretty comfortable with my 10 ounce now but I do realize I should use a heavier glove in the future fpr better protection as my punches get stronger..(ive just been boxing for 2 months now.) Should I be getting a 12 ounce or 13 ounce pair? Thanks!

@Ram – using 12 ounce for the heavy bag, double-end bag. Use 16 ounce for sparring. 10 ounce is too light. At many gyms I’ve been, too, all the amateurs use 16 ounce for everything. And they’re still throwing with good form, speed, power, snap.

glovesIm a heavy weight and weigh about 15 stone 5lb but have small hands what type of glove should i use when doing bag work and pads? Ive tried 16oz and 18oz before but there uncomftable to hit the bag with. Would a pair of 10oz to 8oz be ok?

i had the same problem. its a curse to have small hands cuz its hard to find gloves that fit well but dont hurt an opponent in sparring or your own hand in heavybag work. the higher the oz on the glove, the bigger the hand space-probably why ur feeling bothered. on the pads, something small like 10oz or even (last option) 8 oz woud be ok. but on the heavy bag, id suggest at lowest 12 oz or if u got extremely strong wrists 10oz

8oz is barely any protection to a heavy puncher if they mess up even a bit, particularly in blows like uppercuts or shovel hooks or when youre going sidewards or turning. it is so easy to mess up and sprain your wrist, even worldclass pros lose wrist posn at times.

i never went below 14 oz on the bags even though i was uncomfy, because of repeated sprained wrists. u probly wont break ur hands specially if you have dense bones but wrist ligaments can still get sprained. i suggest some stuff like punching on the bag medium power to improve wrist positioning and wushu training of punching into sand straight downwards full power. it improved the strength of my wrists to take a punch. and if i made i mistake it hurt but didnt sprain. and over time months it helps strengthen the wrist a lot. but even with all that man if u got small wrists (

i assume ur taking heavybag nor speed or double endbag. for those 8oz is ok. for the heavybag 8oz is not ok, unless u literally have hands and wrists of stone u’ll have to worry about perfect position on each punch and all that, just a pain. i suggest try it out in the store, u may be the awesome exception but if u wanna hit all out on a heavybag, common boxing wisdom is to use a glove that will have you wanting to bust up that bag rather than busting up your hand

another little tip from another small fisted guy-how much do you wrap your hands ? the more you use wraps and the more amount u use, the easier gloves will feel on the front of your fist not maybe 100% snug but MUCH better with wraps rather than just without or using thin surgical tape which some guys use. gloves with laces are better than straps for small handed guys cuz u can glove up tighter (maybe its a psychological effect but i always felt better). and if youre still uncomfortable u could try looking for pro gloves made for lower weight classes theyre designed i dont think this stuff is available everywhere but i do know great featherweights and lightweights had special sparring gloves made for them, one of those product lines existed back when i fought dont know if they do now, .however those were 12 oz gloves, not ideal but they just fit the hand better than normal 12oz gloves (i used 14 and later 12, but didnt prefer those gloves cuz they were expensive). u cud check if there are special lines made after someone like pacquiao or IDK martinez or floyd those should be smaller.

replyHi thanks for the info. I hurt my right hand a few month go back so ive been wrapping my hands extra special. I use the long 3.5 meter stretchy wraps( mexican) i have been wrapping the base of my hand/top of wrist alot more now atleast 5 times then crossing over the back of my hand 3 times then around the knuckles 4-5 times then back of hand again 2 more times then the last bit of wrap around the wrist again about 4 wraps. I dont do it to tight either as i know this can do even more damage. Im also not a heavy hitter( if that helps) plus i come from a weight training back ground but carry a bit of fat. Ive lost bout a stone but if i carry on loosing weight i dont think id be a heavy weight i probably be a cruiserweight maybe. Thanks for ur help

@Martin – for sure you have to get use to those big size gloves because that’s what you’re sparring with. Sparring with 10oz ain’t cool, especially if you’re heavyweight. As for the heavybags, I think 10oz is much too light for a heavyweight. I recommend Reyes gloves if you need a smaller tighter glove. I think ProMex is pretty small too. You can also wrap your hand more but ehhh, I think the wraps would just feel weird. You can try putting a pad (like those pros use) over your knuckles and back of your hand to take up more space in the glove.

You may also want to look into women’s boxing gloves…(I’m not speaking from experience, just a thought. ):-*

Laces or hook and closureHello coach, waht would you recomend for a small wrist and good wrist support to hit the heavy bag. Laces gloves or Hook and closures. I’m 5’6″ 160 lbs. I want to buy the Figthing Sports Tri Tech but can’t decide if I should get laces or Hooks (velcro).Thanks

18 to 20?18 to 20oz gloves will not let you develop defense.The gloves are simply too large for realistic defense; all you have to do is raise one of those huge gloves around eye level and no one can hit your head.Fighters would be in for a real shock dropping from 20s to 10s for competition, I’m speaking from experience.No heavyweight I know uses more than 16s.The only people I’ve met that use more than 16s are guys that already had huge power & were trying to reduce injuries to sparring partners; or guys who thought the heavier gloves would give them an edge – like make them faster or make them more powerful.

The sad fact of the matter is that even a lot of 16oz gloves are designed for people with very large hands. So if you’re a big guy, with medium/average sized hands, it can be very difficult to find gloves that fit well.

18oz vs 16ozI’m a 20 year old very small little man, actually I look like im 16 lol, I sparr with bigger guys than me, I find that my 14oz gloves take away my speed when sparring, I use them to punch the bag as well, I love Ali and Leonard and I want to be as speedy as them, so I was wondering if I shoud get 16 or 18oz gloves to hit the bag with, I figure that since I will be using bigger gloves to hit the bag for a while, maybe when I spar with my 14oz then the gloves wont be so big for me after all, and I was hoping that it will increase my hand speed, I could care less about the power, I have power naturally, I have been told that im a skiiny little thing that hit likes a middle weight, so you can guess when I spar I mostley focus on speed than power, so please let me know if I should get the 16oz or the 18 oz gloves, and remember im 118 or 119 pounds, and will using those gloves make my 14oz gloves seem lighter?

@119 – handspeed is part speed, part endurance, and part mental speed. You develop your maximum speed using relaxation and power-building techniques (stretching, plyometric workouts, clapping push-ups, etc). You develop endurance using repetitive movements and SOME resistance (speed bag, light weights). You develop mental speed by throwing punches as fast as possible (shadowboxing).

Using heavy gloves fulfills almost none of those. One, the gloves are weighing down towards the ground…so it’s building your carrying muscles, not your punching muscles. The gloves are so heavy that you get tired TOO fast and don’t get a chance to build your true endurance muscles. Lastly, the punches slow your hands down so much that you don’t get to punch as fast as your brain can think. So even once you take those gloves off and you have the muscle to punch faster…your brain is not use to being able to punch so fast and your body will run out of punches to throw.

plyometric workouts? can you explain what thats is, I heard of them but never knew what they were, and what type of work out should i do using them? and I use the 14.oz to hit the bag how could the 16o.z be much heavier? what do you mean my body will run out of punches to throw? you mean run out of gas? YOu said to use the 16o.z for sparring, but yet you said the gloves will be heavy and make me run out of punches? Whats the difference between using them to hit the bag and to sparr? that fact is I will still be throwing punches with them either way? so I dont get what you were trying to say? my question was that if I use the 16o.z gloves to hit the bag will they make my 14o.z gloves lighter? I forgot to mention that my gym is poor so my sparring partner may be using smaller gloves than my 14o.z gloves, that is why I would like to use my 16o.z gloves to punch the bag and use my 14o.z to sparr

Plyometrics is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, providing explosiveness for a variety of sport-specific activities. (copied from Wikipedia)

16oz is much heavier because boxing is an endurance workout. Imagine running 3 miles with an extra 10lbs on your back. You WILL feel the weight after having taken so many steps. When I said that you body will run out of punches to throw, I meant that your mind will not have any more punches in mind. Pretend your arms are weighed down and you can only throw 2 punches at a time. Over time, you will only get good at throwing 2-punch combinations. But if you keep your arms light, you can throw 10 punch combinations. And over time, you will develop better10-punch combinations because you got to practice them more.

Using 16oz gloves will make your 14oz gloves seem lighter, but in light of many other factors…it doesn’t guarantee you will be a better boxer for that alone.

Dear
I wanted to increase power of my punches & Arms,so my son who is 11 years,
Can you please advice that
1. Can i do heavy bag training bare hand,
2. What if do with gloves.
Regards
Gopal Sapra
919899998628

I am a female that weighs 120 pounds, just started taking boxing classes (hitting the bag & etc) My friend recommends the 16 oz kickboxing glove, but my hands are fairly small. Should i just get the 16oz or should I go for the 14 oz? Please help

what type of gloves would you recommend for a 190# beginner? i tried some shitty everlast elastic cuff gloves on the heavy bag but sometimes while punching left body hooks its hard for me to see the position of my fist because the gloves are too big and bulky. what type of 16 oz gloves would you recommend for heavy bag work/Sparring ?

hey just had a question. I am about 5’10 weigh around 130 have a hand span, from base of hand to tip of middle finger of seven inches. Should an 8 oz glove work or should I get a 12.
it would be better if you email me back i need a response quick.
appreciate your time. akash nath

hi johnny what would you recommend for sparring gloves? im thinking of buying grant 16 oz sparring gloves online. do u know any sites where they sell it cheaper..im looking at the one at http://www.ringside.com for $199.99..

I am a 115lb and 5’4” woman trying boxing for the first time. I typically use the community gloves from my gym (I take kickboxing and bag classes) and was wondering what size gloves (in ounces) I should purchase. I am just planning on taking classes, not competing.

Also, I received a 12oz pair of Everlast Protex women’s gloves from a relative for Christmas today and didn’t know if those would be a good start for me! I’m not really planning on sparring – I’m mostly a runner looking for another form of exercise, especially during the winter

I ordered a pair of Fighting brand 14oz training gloves. I will be using them for multipurpose, pads, light bag hitting and some sparring. I’m about 5’8 165 lbs should I switch up to 16 oz or should I stay at 14 oz? Your feed back would be greatly appreciated. I don’t know how this Website works but you can contact me through my email. e22.ortiz@gmail -Thanks-

Some buy the fresheners that you put in the glove after using them. I also helps to let them hang dry. I personally don’t worry about the smell, I’m use to that nastiness after training for so many years.

Your instructor is right. Big guys have to spar with bigger gloves or else you’ll hurt each other too bad. I’m 145lbs and I spar with 16oz. Unless they’re specifically “sparring gloves”, you can still use the 16oz for bagwork.

I’m a 150lb and seem to keep getting minor wrist sprains and sore hands with my 16 pro main event gloves, they seem to fit too loose especially around the wrist. Was thinking of getting 16oz rival rs2v sparring gloves to use for sparring and heavy bag work would these work.

Hi.
My son is 10 years-old and has been using the Ringside IMF 14OZ sparring gloves for sparring and a second same pair for training. I noticed Ringside offers the IMF sparring model in a “Junior Size”. I wonder if I should change to these “Junior Size’ gloves, also 14OZ. The gloves would be the same weight, but maybe easier to handle? Not so big? But, in amateur boxing, do they supply junior size gloves for kids? Please advice.

Hello, Im in need of new sparring gloves. I was using the 16oz Grants exactly like the ones at the top of this page. I love them, however I cant seem to find them anywhere. Out of stock or just not available. I hear great things about the Rival ones. I like these RS1 Pro Sparring ones. I just wanted opinions on their quality compared to either the Grants or Reyes, oh plus the difference between the “long” and “short” cuff on them. I hear the short cuff is better.

I like all of those brands, you should pick the one you like most. Everyone has their own personal preference for fit, comfort, and feel. Long cuff might be more comfortable for someone who likes to block a lot or wants a more secure wrist feeling for angled hooks. Long cuff gloves might also hit harder and feel more streamlined if the glove’s weight is more distributed towards the back. It really depends on what you like. You have to try it to know.

I would ideally like to try some gloves out before buying but I can’t seem to find a good shop where I live – London, UK. I’m 5’10, 150 lbs looking for some 16 oz sparring gloves that I can also use for a bag/pads. I have been looking at the Tritech by Fighting, but I’m also shopping to see if I can get something cheaper. Will any leather gloves by Title, Ringside, Fighting, Rival be durable enough for the bag? Are there any brands that are known to be good for my kind of weight/height? Thanks

For heavy bag, use bag gloves or training gloves. All the brands you mentioned are pretty good, I like them all. Your height and weight won’t be a factor. Sparring gloves are softer so you don’t hit your opponent too hard. You can’t use those gloves on the heavy bag because they’ll go flat really quick.

Thank you for responding. You obviously know what you’re talking about so I appreciate the advice. However, I’m not quite sure I understand all your advice from the article compared with your response to my message – You said ‘When you go buy boxing gloves, you will see many different kinds advertised. The only ones you really need are TRAINING GLOVES or SPARRING GLOVES.’ and you also said ‘Training with a bigger glove will get you more accustomed to the weight and your hands will be faster… Sparring gloves are usually the thickest and offer the most padding…’ This sounds to me like you’re recommending sparring gloves to be used on the bag. Is that not the case? If it’s not I would recommend changing the wording of the article because I’m sure other people will interpret this in the same way as me.

The Fighting Sports Tri-Tech Bag/Sparring Gloves, the gloves you mentioned having and the ones I asked about, are advertised as hybrid gloves that can do both. What do you recommend for use on the heavy bag if not these? I’ve been using bag gloves but you’ve mentioned that they’re not good. This is a genuine question as I’m fairly new to boxing. Thanks

Thanks for answering my question. Just to clarify is the Tri-tech a gloves that comes under the ‘all-around’ glove type that would be suitable for sparring and bag work? Also is there a difference between training gloves and sparring gloves? Sorry for asking so many questions, it’s just there’s a lot of stuff to take in. Thanks

If they say “all around”, then it should be good for all boxing types of boxing workouts. Sparring gloves are bigger and softer for hitting opponents but they will go flat quickly if you pound them against a bag.

Hi, i am looking to get a new pair of gloves. my current pair is 12 oz and i find that my fingers hurt after hitting the mitts with the trainer. i am a bit of a hard hitter (have been told numerous times) and i was wondering whether my current gloves would be able to provide the adequate protection. I was looking to switch up to either a 14 or 16 oz pair. my hands are fairly small but but the storky kind. I am a 5ft4in female and weigh about 140 lbs. I was actually looking at TITLE GEL® Hook-and-Loop World Training Gloves or TITLE Gel® Intense Bag/Sparring Gloves but i’m kinda worried about the fit. could you give some advice? Thanks!!

I don’t know for sure that 14oz is more suited for you but I recommend for you to try it first. If you’re looking for more protection, bigger gloves will help slow down your punches and also give you that extra cushion.

Any input on the Hayabusa Pro 16oz gloves for heavy bag work? I’m 5′ 8″ 160lbs and have been boxing for about a year so fairly new. I’ve always used Everlast and Title gloves that the gym provides. I’m comparing these to the Tri Tech’s and possibly Rival gloves. However, there aren’t any Rival gloves to try on here. The Hayabusa’s were great for my small wrists though. I’ll just be doing heavy bag work 2x a week for a cardio workout, that’s it. Thank you.

I don’t like Hayabusa but that’s because I’ve been boxing for a lot longer and picky about different brands. But since you’re new and only doing bag work twice a week for cardio workout, it sounds like they’ll be just fine for you.

Just picked up boxing and started training at a very serious gym that produces a lot of golden glove winners and pro’s like juan diaz. I’m a big guy, 200 lbs, and need to buy gloves I can work the heavy bag with over and over without wearing them out. It would also be nice if they had a lining to help with sweat and to keep my hands cool. Where I train has no air conditiong, and no fans unless absolutely neccessary. Any suggestions?

I would guess 18oz or 20oz for you Mike. I don’t know any glove with a cool-hands feature. Maybe the fancy Everlast ones or high-end Rival gloves. I have to say that boxing has never been a comfortable sport for me. Everyone that trains hard will be completely sweating by the end of the workout.

Hi, I would like to buy a new pair of bag gloves and I am currently stuck in choosing between the following gloves. Ringside IMF tech bag gloves 14oz, ringside super bag gloves 12oz and fighting sports bag gloves 12oz. I’m 5’5 & 170lbs and currently using everlast gel protex 2 training gloves 14oz. I wasn’t punching with my knuckles when I was wearing this & I ended up using my g&s sparring gloves instead. I would appreciate if you have any recommendations on my choices. Thanks.

Would wearing 18 oz gloves for bag work improve my hand speed compared to 16 oz gloves? I’m 160lbs and I’m not sure if using the heavier gloves would work as an endurance builder or cause more harm by ruining my technique and just tiring my arms out faster. Would you even be able to tell a noticeable difference between the weight? I’m looking into the 18 oz new Title Platinum Paramount gloves to replace my rather terrible 16 oz everlast pro style gloves.

Hi…I’m a 5ft 4in female at 150+ lbs. I’ve been told by my trainer to buy 16oz gloves for sparring. When I went to purchase a pair, I was told I didn’t need anything over 12oz even for light sparring. I walked away with a pair of Twins 12oz. I’m training twice a week on the heavy bags and once a week sparring. My trainer suggested 16oz because I’m a hard hitter. Suggestions?? Thanks.

Question: I’m 43 (160#) and spar with 20-somethings all the time. They usually wear bag gloves; 16’s and sometimes 14’s. I wear 16oz sparring gloves and want to keep using 16’s because that’s what I (masters) use in competition but I think I’d like something with a little less padding to put some stank on my punches when I need to. Thinking about masters competition gloves or a 16oz bag glove. Thoughts?

I am 16 male weighting 110 lbs(50 kg) which size gloves will be appropriate for me i had never boxed before and i had to use the gloves for only punching punchbags my hands are not too big also tell me about how heavy punchbag should i start and a little information about hand raps please please please reply soon.

I’m completely new to boxing and everything that goes with it. I have a heavy bag that i will use mainly for it’s cardio benefits and hopefully improve my hand speed (i play basketball). So i was hoping you could recommend what kind of bag gloves to get, and what size. If possible i would really like to spend at the most $45. I’m 5’11, 180 lb. , 17 yr. old male. I’ve seen some gloves that have oz. Options or are just regular or large, so i wasn’t sure what to get. Thanks

I am a novice boxer – really just getting started. 47 years old and 188 lbs. The gym I am training out only carries their brand and Everlast. Tired of borrowing and want to buy my own. Using them for heavy bag and sparring so basically want to buy an overall training glove if that makes sense. Can you recommend the right size – I am guessing 18 oz. Also, I read your article but can you recommend a good brand – several people have mentioned Fuel. Thanks for your help.

Hey Johnny,
Ive been boxing for only about a month now, maybe twice a week. But I plan to start training 4 times a week consistently. I’m 6’1 240 but with the training and new eating regiment I plan to drop to 220lbs. My hand circumference without wraps is 8.5 in. I’ve been using the everlast protex 14oz which I bought for about 30-40 bucks from sports authority which i thought were cool but the guys at the gym advised me to get a different pair because everlast are horrible. Im looking for some heavy bag gloves but need help deciding which ones to get. I’m stuck between getting the Rival Ultra Bag gloves 12 or 14 oz r the fighting sports tritech bag gloves 12 or 14oz. The only thing about the Rival Ultra Bag gloves is that the 14oz are for an extra large size and extra large is for 9.5-10.5 hand circumference on their page for these gloves. And like I said I’m a 8.5 hand circumference. Also I heard the fighting sports bag gloves wrist support is not good. Which ones do u recommend for me?

Fighting sports gloves will be fine, Alex. I would recommend 16oz for you because you’re a big guy. Don’t worry about the hand circumference because your hand will be bigger after putting on handwraps anyway.

Hi Johnny, i am a male about 129lbs. I am using my 10oz winning for pad works. Do you consider that as too light? Somehow i like it better than the 12oz. What is the risk of me using the 10oz for pad works?

Another thing, have you tried or heard about the Boundboxing branded gloves. They are suppose to be hand made and is priced like around $170. I wonder if you ever heard about the brand or even tried it before?

My suggestions for glove size are listed above. Different people like different weights. If you use gloves that are too light, you risk wrist injury especially when you land hard punches at awkward angles. I’ve never heard of Boundboxing.

I havent read all posts closely so this may have already been covered. I also recommend buying 16oz gloves for most people for sparring. The thing you have to be careful of is too make sure the weight is mostly in padded area on the knuckles. You can buy 16 oz gloves that have the weight around the collar and are nothing more than glorified bag mitts around the knuckle area. A common mistake.

When doing heavy bag work I use thin bag mitts. My logic for this is that the impact created on my bones in my hands will strengthen them. I realise this is more suited to people who already know how to punch correctly and people who dont have any existing hand injuries. I have been doing this for 15 years and have had no problems. I also noticed that most of the people with hand injuries use big soft gloves, is this just a coincidence? Other martial arts use impact to strenghten bones and I think there is some merit to it. JN What is your opinion? Thanks

It’s true that thinner gloves can help develop bone density. But so can thicker gloves. If you beat your hands every single day, it will quickly reach a certain point where you can’t train anymore so having padded gloves will help.

Thin gloves are not a foolproof idea because many punches are landed a bad angle in boxing. You have a moving opponent, someone who keeps shifting around and even parrying down your wrists. The same thing can happen when you’re punching a bag that moves around. One unlucky hook and it’s easy to get injured. The last thing you want as a competing boxer is a hand injury before your fight day. (It would ruin all the time you spent in training.)

All the well trained boxers I’ve seen are just fine and have trained with thick gloves, thin gloves, doesn’t matter. Some people have good wrists and others don’t. If you abuse your body enough, it will fall apart no matter how well your bones are formed. At the pro level, many of them stop banging the heavy bag so hard.

I am looking for a couple of pairs of 16oz sparring gloves. what do you think of theTuf-Wear Pro Tactic Sparring Gloves($59.99? I have been using Tuf-Wear bag gloves for two years now and I love them, they still look like new. I recently purchase two pairs of TITLE Platinum Ultimate Sparring Gloves(69.99) but I am not happy with the product, the stiching is not top quality and the inside of the glove seems to have left over lining which is unconfortable when you tied to make a fist, I am going to send them back and looking at tuf-wear. have you used Tuf-wear brand sparring gloves or what other brand glove woul you recommend at $69.00 price range?

Hi Johnny.
First, great site!
Reading through all the articles because I want to leave the boring weight lifting gym behind me and learn to box.

My question. I’m 6’2″ and 230 pounds (big shoulders but let’s say 20 excessive pounds) and because of my job (designer and programmer) I need gloves that protect my pretty fragile rent-earning hands. Should i go for the 18oz with more padding?

Hi Johnny (or anyone who knows). I’ve used the Everlast ERGO FOAM LEATHER BAG GLOVES as well as the Ringside IMF TECH BAG GLOVES. I use hand wraps with a sponge for extra padding and yet my hands still kill, middle knuckle bruises, wah wah wah. I’m 190 lbs. and can go a bit nuts and hit hard. Any idea what glove would have to most padding or any other ideas? Never tried those gel wraps so not sure if they work.

I’m 100lbs, and I’m keen to get a pair of Rival Elite gloves but the sizing is confusing me, because on their website it says size S – 8oz, M – 10 oz, L – 12 oz? Or can I pretty much stick to 12oz with every brand?

The thinner bag gloves are good for hitting the heavybag. The larger gloves can give you a false sense of security. The thinner gloves will force the boxer to make a proper fist while hitting the bag. This is especially important for newer boxers.

Hi Johnny! I am new with boxing, from the bag to the gloves. I was hoping you could give me a recommendation about a standing Bag, and brand of gloves you may recommend. I am 21, 210, female. I had planned out playing football, but tryouts aren’t for awhile, in the meantime I need something to relief stress. Something to keep my mind from getting off track with work. I plan on attending some boxing classes if I can fit them into my schedule, but I’d still like to have my very own bag & gloves for home use. I’d appreciate your feedback, thanks for taking time out. I don’t want to go cheap, Cause I’m all about quality, but I don’t have a padded savings either. Thanks again!

For you I would recommend 16oz or even 18oz gloves. For a bag, you can use any of the standing bags that they sell at the sports good stores. It won’t be anywhere near as fun as a hanging bag though. I highly suggest that you got to a boxing gym first to get an idea of what kind of equipment you like before you buy anything. That would be a great way to maximize your savings.

Thanks for taking your time out to respond. I’ve been looking at local gyms in my area, and I definitely want to take up on your suggestion. I will even see about the hanging bag. I am all for fun when it doesn’t pertain to work. Thanks again!

I’ve never washed a pair of gloves so I don’t know what’s possible. I’d be seriously worried about getting moisture soaking through the gloves. That can break down the padding and make it less effective or wear out faster.

I had a question about Fairtex gloves. I know you listed your favorites and recommendations above and Fairtex is typically more for Muay Thai, but did you have any input on these type of gloves? They seem to be regarded highly by others. Since it is not a typical boxing brand perhaps you didn’t mention it. Mainly will be used for bag work and pads, but maybe some light sparring. Curious to hear how they hold up and the comfort level, etc. Thanks and again, great job!

Hey Johnny,
I am 5’4 and 110. What size sparring gloves do you recommend? I have been using 16oz to spar but i just feel like i am held back with the 16oz. I have a harder time snapping my punches. I use 10oz for pad work with my coach and i obviously fight using 10oz. Do you think 16 is fine or would 14 for sparring maybe be better?

hahaha. Other than the video I sent you personally, I have only had one other fight, and it lasted 1 minute. TKO! I won! It is a terrible video though, its zoomed in for the 2nd 30 seconds so you can’t see much! Not worth it. Once I become a better boxer and much less of a brawler I will post them!

I actually lost my first fight but it was a close decision and some think I won but she was a lot cleaner. I just threw the entire time! I got a standing ovation and everyone boo’d when she won. It was pretty fun! My 2nd fight was over within 1 minute. That all Ive had so far. Ringside in Kansas City next. I talked to my coach about using 14oz and while he agrees it would be better for me, I hit really hard for my weight and he thinks he wants me to continue to use 16oz to protect my sparring partners. Ive almost knocked my partners out on a number of occassions with just a clean hit. I dont know the difference but I believe my coach if he says I hit like a 132/140 at 110. You wouldnt think it looking at me either! Kinda funny. So its completely fine. I want my partners to stay protected. I guess once I figure out my power, Ill move to 14oz for sparring…..

Also, I am a female. I am not bulky at all. At 5’4, 110 i am more of a taller lean boxer instead of compact muscular one. I hit really hard for my weight though. My coach says for my weight i am the hardest puncher hes worked with. You wouldnt know this by just looking at me though! Ha.

Hey johnny what 16oz gloves you think will help me make a tighter fist? I been sparring with 16oz everlast gloves not the cheap ones you buy at dicks for 30$ neither I paid a descent price for the ones I use but the problem is I can’t make a real tight fist, and now every time I punch my index finger is in pain. I still can close and open my hand so I don’t think my finger is broken. Anyway I just want gloves that will let me make a tight fist. I keep hearing good things about ringside imf sparring gloves, with your experience what gloves you think will help? Oh I’m a heavyweight by the way I’m 6’1 and don’t have the biggest hands.

hello! i got the ringside imf tech sparring gloves 16 oz and have been sparring in them for 5 months, theyre cool but since i saved up 500 bucks i am willing to buy some top quality gloves. I was thinking winning or grants but i dont know which to go with. i see reviews on winnings saying theyre the best protective gloves and grant has a punchers feel, do grants training gloves offer good protection for your sparring partner too?! Im a 120 lbs 5’6

Hey Johnny,
I have a boyfriend that has been training and stopped for a while and getting back into it, trying to go pro. He wanted some gloves with weights to train with. What are the best gloves that you can recommend? I’d like to get him a present. I was going to get him the fighting sports tri-tech weighted gloves he once spoke about but there are one’s better then those particular gloves I’ve heard him say. He’s about 150-160lbs 5’8… any idea?

Hi, thank you for all the comments left on here, I have been reading down through them and just super helpful info for a beginner like me… . I live on a island and basically order everything online. Based on the specifications I am going to need a 14oz. I am on a budget and have been looking at 2 different gloves Everlast Pro Style and Everlast Protex2. Would you recommend Everlast? If so are they good for wrists. I really need good wrist support. Also I saw RingSide which I saw you previously recommended. Are either of these brands good wrist support? What are some “stay away from brands” besides the Cetury and TKO? ALSO big question… WRAPS… I am torn between Elastic Type handwraps and the Not Stretchy ones… Which one would you recommend and why? THANK YOU. Really appreciate all the information.

Ringside would offer much better wrist support than everlast. There are too many stay away brands to list; the easier answer would be to focus on the brands I do mention. Elastic handwraps are best. They are more comfortable and secure the hand better.

No No! Sparring gloves are softer and give you less protection than bag gloves. By bag gloves I meant for you to get the quality bag gloves that look like regular boxing gloves. Not the flimsy thin ones.

I’m looking to get into boxing and I am in need of getting a good pair of gloves. I really like the style of the Rival gloves but I want to get something on the cheaper side until i invest in some of the more expensive gloves. I know that Rival has the fitness gloves for around 50$ and the Rival Elites are 90$. Do you think i should just invest in the 90$ ones or would the fitness last me for a few months? I would like to start training at three to four times a week, so thats how often i would be using the gloves. Thanks for the help

Fitness gloves are for aerobic exercise and punching the air. They aren’t made to take abuse. With that said, Rival is still one of the better brands out there but I would recommend for you to get title training gloves if you want to save money.

i have a four year old daughter who is just starting some boxing trainig to help strengthen joints ands muscles amogst the fact she loves watching it to. she has small hands and i was just wondering what size and weight gloves she should use? any feed back would be apreciated. thanx

I have been getting some pretty sore fingers after training, esp on the heavy bag. Its a bit painful when a make a tight fist and there is just some general mild pain in the fingers which last about 3 days.

I’m using everlast 12 Oz pro style training gloves, i practice combination punches on heavy bag for 55 minute and rest for 10 minute(remove the gloves during this 10 minute) before i continue my another 55 minute training on heavy bag

12oz is too light for training, especially for beginners. The standard heavy bag routines are maybe for 6 rounds at most. Save your hands for the other bags like speed bag and double-end bag! 55 minutes a day is TOO MUCH, no wonder your hands hurt.

Hello, i weigh 125-126. I was thinking about getting 14oz gloves, im not sure about getting 16oz. Thinking the 16oz might be a little heavy. I am buying gloves for sparring. which would you prefer for my weight.

I’ve been doing heavy bag training about three days a week. I’m currently using Title Gel gloves but am starting to get some pain on the outside of my right hand. I wanted to know if there is a better glove out there. I was thinking about the title black, title platinum or a totally different brand all together.

Intense bag work is going to give you hand problems sooner or later. There is no bag glove that can take away the pain. You have to turn it down. 6 rounds on the heavy bag is more than enough. You should move to hitting a heavy bag filled with water or use other equipment. Hitting mitts is a better idea and develops your skills better effectively.

Hey Johhny, i weigh 125-126. I was thinking about getting 14oz gloves, im not sure about getting 16oz. Thinking the 16oz might be a little heavy. I am buying gloves for sparring. which would you prefer for my weight. And when using 14 or 16oz gloves will my hand speed become faster when i drop to 12oz or lower, or mma gloves.

I am trying to find Extra Large gloves. My hand measures between 9.5 and 10 below the knuckles, but my problem is my long fingers, which measure from tip to wrist between 10 and 10.5 inches. I am having trouble find boxing gloves for sparring / and heavy bag work, for my kickboxing class.

Your articles are really in-depth and they just reflect not only the extent of your knowledge but also your passion for boxing. Please keep it up!

I live in India, and have taken up boxing purely as a fitness activity. I have had limited fighting and training experience by virtue of being an army brat who grew up around soldiers. Now that I’m working and living on my own, there aren’t enough boxing gyms around for me to actually fight, so a bag and my fists are what I have to make do with usually.

I have some questions, hope you may be able to help with these:

1. I often see ‘bag gloves’ and ‘heavy bag gloves’ marketed seperately on online portals. To an untrained eye like mine, it is clear that the so called ‘bag gloves’ are made of more rigid foam that probably hugs the fist in a more compact manner. Also, these gloves have little or no protection for the thumb (Some of them have holes through which thumbs stick out’). On the other hand, the mitts marketd as ‘heavy bag gloves’ seem quite similar to training gloves or even the gloves one might use in fighting except for the weight requirements perhaps. I mean, they seem better padded overall, yet seem to lack the rigidity of the ‘bag gloves’. So do tell which are better?

Over the years, I have been using ‘bag gloves’ made by Universal, a brand available in India, even though our own boxers competing at higher levels avoid it like the plague. The gloves have served me well, though, and now that they’re wearing out, I’m on the prowl for an international brand that lasts long. Your reviews have been helpful, ad any help with resolving the bag gloves/ heavy bag gloves’ issue would be great.

2. I’m also wondering if it is okay to use ‘training gloves’ on the heavy bag.

Heavy bag gloves are far better. Better cushion for your hand, better support for your wrists, better protection all around. They cost more too for good reason. And yes, experienced boxers typically the thin “bag gloves” because they don’t offer enough support. Once you improve your punching power, you will understand why.

Sure you can use training gloves on the bag but some of them that aren’t meant for abuse will wear out quickly, much faster than one with dense foam made specifically for the heavy bag.

I’m 5’4″ and I’m about 115 lbs. I have medium sized hands and long fingers. What size should I get for boxing gloves? I just plan to do the amateur kickboxing so do you think those Everlast gloves from Target or Walmart are good enough?

The everlast gloves from target/walmart are the worst gloves you can buy. I have no idea what size to recommend for you…12oz or 14oz. I would recommend you try on different gloves at the gym and find out what you like before you buy something.

or vice versa, when they write weight they don’t write the size ! I’m confused.
I’ve also noticed that the bag gloves whose weights are mentioned aren’t heavier than 16oz, while I need 18oz_20oz according to my hand size.Do you have any solution?

Hi Johnny,
I appreciate all the help you are giving others. Been researching a lot about what oz glove I should use for an all rounder, on both bags and sparring. I weigh around 176lbs and 6ft 1. Could you possibly help what oz glove i should use please?

I’m looking for some training gloves for sparring & bag work (not pink ones!). I’m 5ft 2ins female and weight about 105lbs and have small wrists. I’ve tried a few gloves (Everlast, Reebok, Adidas) at the gym but they aren’t really any good. What size/weight/brand gloves would you recommend I use?

Greetings from Australia Johnny, your site is fantastic…best i have seen! I have recently purchased a heavy bag and are looking for a good glove for the heavy bag. I have a pair of 10 ounce rival elite bag gloves which i use on my floor to ceiling ball. I had a quick go on the bag with the rivals and my wrists got real sore. I am looking at the fighting sports tri tech gloves in possibly the 14oz? I am 5″11 and 145 pounds so i am quite long and lean (wrists and forearms are fairly skinny lol). Would you recomend the 14 or perhaps 16ounce gloves?

hey johnny,have u bought gloves from cletoreyes.com?do u think its a legit site? im looking at der extra padding !6 oz gloves….i beleive its a new one,not sure but i just want to know your thoughts of it…gna use it in sparring…they emailed me and told me that the gloves have 2 inch more padding in the punch area for better protection

Hey, so i bought 16 oz fighting gloves for sparring and bag work. And i saw you saying you smaller oz for heavy bag work? I have everlast 12 oz, but im never touching those again because my wrist always hurt after i use it, but before i was training/sparring with fairtex 16 oz gloves. also I’m 15 and walk around 135-140. Btw i do Muay Thai and not boxing.

Can i wear training/sparring gloves to work on the heavy bag? or will the padding wear out quick and actually end up hurting my hand? should i just end up buying bag gloves for the heavy bags? ive been hearing that the training gloves offer more protection to the hand

hey johnny….if u wer to buy gloves…wat gloves would u get between rivals and ringside? im looking at the rs11 evolution gloves by rivals,its one of ttheir latest gloves. any thoughts of that gloves….thanks

I’m looking to buy gloves for my boyfriend as a present (I’m aware thats a bit of a risky gift as he won’t be there to see if they fit him well) but I’m a little confused as to what would be the best type to get him. In particular I’m confused about the size and weight factor – he’s got average size hands, is of petite build but quite strong and agile. And he’s relatively new to boxing. So I’m aware I should go for leather training gloves that are weighted at the front rather than the back, but but would I get him 14,16 or 18 oz . Also with handwraps on I’m taking a guess and saying large would be the best guess though I’ve heard that gloves are like shoes – that they wear in and mould to the hand over time and use. So would that make medium a better option?

Sorry if these questions seem stupid, I will admit I’m close to clueless when it comes to boxing. But any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated!

hi, i don’t know anything about boxing, and i noticed a gal had a similar question earlier. i just need some clarification… some sites tell you to measure your hand to determine sm-med-large-xl, while some only talk about glove weights (which is most of them). if my boy is size L, would i be safe in getting him 16oz gloves if he’s just doing bag work? any advice would be appreciated, thank you!

Hi, I have been working out on a heavy bag for the last two years at my gym (Boxing and Kickboxing classes). I go to about 4 to 5, 60 minute classes per week. And we usually spend about 30 minutes working on the heavy bag. I have been using 16oz Ringside IMFTech gloves, 18 oz Fighting Sports training glove and 20oz Ringside Training Gloves. I am a heavy hitter for my size (e.g., when hitting with crosses and hooks the heavy bag tends to fold around my punches and not swing away as much) and I believe my form is pretty good (I studied martial arts for about 12 years and have always focused on hitting with a tight, closed hand as well as a straight wrist, striking with first two knuckles).

I have been having problems with my hands (mostly knuckles); after a hard workout, I find my knuckles are fairly sore and I loose dexterity in my fingers, and I want to continue playing guitar and typing. Typically I wear an extra large glove, and I weigh about 175 lbs (I’m in pretty decent shape for my mid-forties, but I could be better if I weighed about 10 lbs less). Even though my hands are large, I have small to medium size bones/wrists.

My primary concern is protecting my hands. And am wondering: is a heavier glove better or is there a size that just gets too big and are there other drawbacks to getting heavier glove (for heavy bag training)? I would like your advice as the the largest size glove I should consider and whether that will give me substantially more knuckle protection. Specifically, I have been looking at some “Ring to Cage” gloves, which I could buy in 18, 20, 22 or 24 oz sizes. I have also been considering using a knuckle guard (Winning NG-2 Nuckle Guard) in combination with whatever glove I do choose.

Do you have any recommendations for the best glove to protect my hands, and the size of glove that makes sense given what I have described above? Also, are there any products that you would recommend in combo with the glove (such as the knuckle guards)?

Your hands are hurting because you spend too much time on the heavy bag. It will also be more especially if you’re using it in a one-dimensional way (ie: just power, instead of speed, stamina, angles, etc). No amount of cushioning can really help your bones because the better you hit, the more they will hurt. Your hands aren’t meant for that type of abuse. It’s a common problem with beginners.

You can definitely wrap better, use padding in your handwraps, and get bigger gloves. Ultimately, it will come down to you having to get off the heavy bag and work on other boxing equipment. Old pros don’t hit the heavy bag above 80% for no more than 3-6 rounds TOPS. Many of them not even that much because of the hand damage sustained over the years. At some point you realize power doesn’t come from how much you beat your hands, it comes from technique. And you can develop that through drills…and then check it out on the heavy bag moderately.

If your goal is to stay on the heavy bag, well then I would advise for you to get the absolute biggest glove you can find and pad your hand as much as possible. The best gloves are probably not made by Ring to Cage, maybe you’ll have to go to Grant or Winning if you want to avoid serious hand damage. (Or at least that’s what the best pro punchers use.)

I recently bought a pair of pro maxx 14 oz gloves. At the moment I’m using them for sparring in kickboxing but it’s pretty light, only semi contact. would you recommend going up to 16 oz or would it be ok to keep using 14 oz as long as the sparring isn’t full force?

What is your take on the Everlast Protex glove. For me they work allright, I got them because they cheap and they get the job done, my question is, is there anything better that is cost effective whil offering maximum protection and comfert?

Hey Johnny, are you familiar with Twins and Kings gloves?? Im looking to get new boxing gloves before I go to a muay thai camp in Thailand this winter, and I saw these brands in a shop in my country as the most popular and priciest.

The most pleasant gloves I have had it was Soviet Union made ones about 35 years ago, very old fashioned style gloves, which I started to learn boxing with in our apartment with my father…

Stick to Twins if you havent allready gotten a pair. and make sure the gloves are muay thai boxing gloves. They have special padding so you can deflect kicks and knees and not all muay thai gloves have this padding. Boxing gloves dont have either. Same rules apply 16s for everything except competitions. Twins have the best reputation. Just order them online usually they are much cheaper than stores. At stores they can range from 100-120 american dollars online from 40 to 50 dollars plus shipping. Worst case scenario you buy a pair from the gym in thailand. And dont forget the shinguards either Windy is a good brand I like my Tuff shinguards though. Hope this can help anyone. And this just comes from experiences from myself coaches and peers and I am no muay thai expert.

hi johny! I hope you could answer my question. Im jay-ar from philippines. Im 30 yrs old and have a limited stamina because im new in boxing. I weigh 143 lbs and 5’3 in height. I have an Everlast boxing gloves weighing 14oz. Accdg to your guide, it is fine to use 14oz. My problem is that it looks awkward because my boxing gloves almost reach my elbows. I want to develop my techniques, speed and power. I don’t want to use a big boxing gloves. Thanks in advance.

While I am in search for a new pair of boxing gloves, now I think a little bit before I buy, because my needs and situation is a bit different than when I was young and training seriously in one boxing gym with one coach. Back then I used to wear any gloves that were available in a gym, and those were usually smelly but good quality gloves:), I don’t even know the brand.Today I am not a competitive boxer, I just like doing lots of boxing routines for my exercise, and I spar with some guys here and there. I don’t go just to one boxing gym anymore, sometimes i travel to Thailand for muay thai camp, then sometimes spar in one boxing gym near my house, then sometimes I go to another boxing gym…

So, in a new place you spar with people you don’t know well, and quite often I see guys weighting around 180 pounds spar with me wearing good brand but small gloves something not bigger than 10 oz. It’s not a problem for me since I am used to spar with very very thin barely protected worn out gloves during my teenage years back then in soviet union, and usually my defense is good so I don’t get punched in face very often:), but seems no one cares in the gyms I go to, what gloves you wear when you spar, just sometimes you agree to go “light”:)… So, I thought if i buy bigger gloves something like 14 oz, or even 12 oz but with better padding than usual, that would be unfair sparing if my sparing partner wears small 10 oz gloves.

On the other hand, I contemplate, if I wear small gloves myself, I would constantly have to think to go lighter because guys tend to complain, when we go almost full, even my jab is too hard and ask me go lighter… while if I wear bigger gloves that would probably allow me to punch slightly harder. And I noticed that for example 12 oz isn’t always equal to 12 oz on a different brand. Personally, I liked Top Ten gloves, very well padded etc. and if I go to spar with my father that would be ideal for both of as to wear these gloves. While sparring with basically random guys who wear small 10 oz gloves and don’t really care about you that much, then I am not sure… I would appreciate any of your thoughts on this.

If you’re sparring with a bunch of random people, then I guess you’ll have to follow their random rules. If you want more structured boxing environment, then you have to find a serious boxing gym with trained fighters that follow the rules of good protection and fair fighting.

It depends on the fighting organization. Generally, the idea is yes. In amateur competition, they give you the gloves during the fight. In pro, that’s something you negotiate through your contact. If this is in the gym, well anything goes.

thanks for your respond jhonny. What i want to ask, is there a pair of gloves with same weight but different in size? I agree with your guide that is why i bought my 14oz gloves. I would like to know if there is a pair of gloves with same weight but has different size. What brand would you recommend? Thanks.. More power to your website and more power in helping people to engage in this sport..

Hello, I only do a workout on a 100lbs punching bag and am not a boxer but love the cardio workout and relieving stress. After a 20 minute workout with the crappy standard gloves that came with the bag, i get blisters and bruised knuckles (i don’t wrap my hands but will begin to now). What gloves would you recommend (i also weigh 210 lbs if it matters)?

3 years ago we bought our boys boxing gloves and a bag. Just the cheap ones. They think it is fun to spar and they are all still laughing and smiling when they are done. The problem that we have is when anyone comes over no matter the age, they see the gloves and put them on. They were the cheap everlast and have been ripped totally apart. Our boys are 13, 11, 9 the heaviest one is 110 pounds. When there friends come over they love to box. The kids weigh any where from 180 (13year old) to 70 pounds yes they do box each other but no one is that mean so it really is for fun. Sometimes we have adults that were coming over and putting on the gloves. I am wanting to buy gloves that are not to expensive but can also handle a wide range of people. We only use them a couple times a month. What would you recommend to buy? 16 oz? but the brand baffels me. I don’t even mind buying used on ebay i just don’t want to spend a lot of money on them but i don’t want them ripping out with in a few months.

Please check out the recommendations I gave to other above. If the crap gloves aren’t cutting it for you, you’ll have to move to the good brands and see which ones are most affordable. Titleboxing classic gloves 16oz are a great place to start.

Hey John looking to purchase a pair of gloves or possibly two. I need some for bag work and sparring. Should I get 14 oz for bag? Or should i get a pair of 16oz so i can use for bag and spar. I like the pro mex gloves are they good for bag and spar? I was also looking at the fighting hi techs are they good for bag and spar?

Nowadays this “standard” that sparring gloves have to be 16 oz is very relative… for example Top Ten 12 oz gloves hit significantly softer than most of those traditional gloves of 18 oz!!! In general, if sparring in gloves from AIBA approved brands there is no need to wear those bulky heavy 16-18 oz gloves as I got an idea that many western gyms insist… New technologies and different glove design change all of this… and I think even if sparring in those very much padded gloves from Winners you also don’t need to wear 16 oz. Protection is good, but a common sense is also necessary. Modern 12 oz gloves could have just enough padding for safe sparring, while if you wear lets say Cleto Reyes then maybe even 16 oz isn’t enough. Just my thoughts.

that’s true… but somehow, IMHO way heavier gloves than those used in a real fight dictates too different speed and as a result different combinations than in a real fight situation…. besides that, if sparring in a heavy gloves constantly, I would worry about developing a wrong, too slow than it’s necessary and potentially possible neuromuscular connection… this is one of the main reasons why constantly lifting heavy weights slows down fighters neuromuscular connection and teaches wrong movement motorics…

Yes and no. It does make sense to spar at slightly slower speed so you prevent injury and get more chances to fight intelligently. Smaller gloves can cause more injuries and cuts in sparring which would prevent you from fighting that weekend. You might also cause hand damage especially with all the wild movement in sparring. Ultimately, heavier gloves do better offer protection which is a benefit in training over the long-term.

I am just getting started with boxing, and I have no clue what kind of gloves I should be getting. I am just looking for gloves to use on a heavy bag. I am 5’6” and I weigh 150lbs. Should I go with 14 or 16 oz on the heavy bag? Also what brand would you recommend? I sorta have small wrists, so a more snug fit would be ideal. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

and that’s why sprinters don’t train running with additional weights on their legs… because it’s not optimal for developing speed… IMHO way heavier gloves make sense when training in a commercial gym random people from good families who like the sport of boxing but have no serious intention to compete… and this is of course mainly for liability issues… Personally I never sparred in anything heavier than 12 OZ in my life, so I cannot say anything for sure… but interesting, in former soviet union countries I still don’t see amateur guys sparring in 16 – 18 OZ gloves and that’s including heavyweights!… the standard here is anything from 10 to 14 oz… and most likely in the middle.

Yes, you could say there are other exercises for hand speed, but competitive combat boxers spend so much time working in pairs and sparring… Protection is good, but it’s very complicated to maximally protect boxers without sacrificing other very important aspects of boxing. The roots of boxing are in bare knuckles boxing… and the farther we go from the roots the more perverted this sport becomes…

hi johnny,
i was wondering, if you just want a pair of gloves to hit the bag which ones are good for a girl.
i have read some of the comments above and ive been looking online for about a week and im going crazy cuz i kinda want cute one, but not pink, maybe idk, and at decent price range. the ones overseas are cute but the shipping fee is killing me. are there an/y website or stores in the us that sell those brands like rdx, hatton, lonsdale or stinger…. but how are the addidas gloves. and i there a difference between mma boxing gloves and boxing gloves. i know the difference between mma gloves and boxing but is there such a things as mma boxing gloves. oh… and about the boom gloves or max gloves are they any good? i guess i was using the wrong gloves for a while on the bag. so i dont want to buy another set of wrong bag gloves. i was told to get 12oz but the most i will (hopefully weigh) is 105. so i was thinking the 10oz but i like to hit the bag pretty hard. it gets the frustration out.
or should just concentrate on the padding and not the design on it.
i want something that fits me… so i don’t look like a clown either. im pretty small framed.
if you can suggest any that would be great.

Your thoughts are correct. Cheap gloves are generally lower quality. Some brands (like Everlast) make cheap gloves as well as expensive gloves. But you don’t necessarily have to spend $100. Anything over $50 should be fine for amateur level.

Hi I am also looking to buy womens gloves. I’m 5’2 and 105lbs. was looking at TITLE pro style training gloves but not sure if i should go with 12 or 14oz. I just started classes and have been using the 16oz community gloves (gross). The weight feels fine but I saw your chart recommends a lighter glove for someone my size hitting the heavy bag. I like to hit hard and go all out but I work in a hospital and cannot risk a hand injury. should I stick with the 16oz ive been using for the added protection? I definately wont be sparing I just enjoy the workout and working on technique. The gym I joined is pretty gritty and I dont want to look like a sissy either. The class im in is mostly heavy bag and some mit work. I would appreciate your personal advice, this is the most information i have found so far!

Hey I have a question im getting my boyfriend (He’s 5’4 135 lbs) some gloves because the ones he got from title he says hurts his knuckles after hitting the heavy bag alot. He told me to get Heavy Bag Gloves but I really dont see them. I saw some Ringside IMF Tech Bag Gloves, Ringside Gel Shock™ Boxing Super Bag Gloves, Lonsdale I-Core Super vBag Gloves. I dont really wanna spend more than $60, I am truly lost right now in could use some help

In terms of wrist support im stuck between 18oz and 16oz grant gloves. I weight 180lb but i have very small wrists and fists. My only worry with 18oz gloves is that my hand will be so small and it would move around in such a big glove. How compact are 18oz gloves relative to 16oz?

I saw in the comments that you recommend Rival gloves for a better fit for women. Is that all Rival gloves, or specifically their “women’s” gloves? The one pair of Rival women’s sparring gloves I’m seeing online (the RS2V-W gloves) have a big flower on them, which just isn’t my style. But I’m worried that the other non-women’s gloves won’t fit my hands right. (I’m not especially petite, but I do have smaller hands than a guy!) Also, those RS2V-W gloves are $120, which was a tad more than I wanted to spend on gloves–but I will if they are really worth it.

My 11 year old son (slim build) in need of something to let off steam with. Looking at buying kids Boxing Gloves and Focus Pads. Would these be a good starting point for him. Grateful for your recommendations and if weight of gloves right. We can’t have a punch bag (our ceilings not up to it!). Many Thanks.

Hi Johnny, first of all I have to tell you it is a great site, I started to read recently and cannot stop reading

What do glove size do you suggest to me? It seems easy, I am pretty “big” (I mean I am fat… 186cms, and 110kgs), but there is a problem: I am not training in a boxing gym but an MMA gym. We spar regularly with box gloves and my sparring partners use 12s gloves. (not with mma gloves)

And the problem is: my sparring partners dont care much about being cautious with a beginner like me (Although I did some karate about 15-20 years ago, but thats all, and now I’m 40, totally out of shape)

I’m worried if I use the gloves you suggest to me they will beat me more easily and sparring is not much fun if a 200-220 pounds weighted guy use a 10-12s gloves on me and hit as hard almost as they can…

I have to say, I have spent some time on your site and it is very helpful while getting straight to the point.

I just had a quick question for you – I have been boxing for about two years now and have been mainly kickboxing and now moved on to pure boxing.

I used to use the Twins brand as it was easily accessible everywhere I have been to and fit into the 8 oz and 10 oz sizes. However, I think the 10 oz one I was using was a company reject and was way tighter than the rest of the 10 oz I have tried – but I see a lot of guys using the 10oz and 12 oz sizes with the Twins brand. My gloves recently got stolen so I was hoping to use this opportunity to buy new gloves- so my question is this. Which size should go for as I am now looking to buy a new brand with a more comfortable and enforced wrist protection as I am a pretty hard hitter and I am really not sure if the gloves I have been using for the past two years have been the right “fit” for me as the coaches I have been with weren’t very helpful or perceptive in terms of measuring up and the effect of my gloves on my hands.

I am currently 5’7 and weigh around 122 lbs and have long fingers. I just wanted to know if you had ever used twins or if you could recommend a brand and model that may suit me well with my weight and as I have skinny wrists, would you recommend a lace up or a hook and loop? I just want to find the right gloves for me as I think my wrists are suffering short term damage.

If I were to get gloves, I would have to buy them online as although American, I haven’t been back for a while and would really like to get the size right.

I know its difficult to buy online because you need to feel them out and see but would really appreciate any feedback or your opinion on what I should do on this.

Lace up vs hook & loop and purely a personal preference. 8 and 10oz are too small for your body weight, no wonder you’re feeling pain. You need to get to 14oz. You also shouldn’t be beating the heavy bag so much, the hands and wrists can’t take that much damage when you’re firing punches from all different angles and such.

How long should leather boxing gloves last for a guy who uses them two times per week for two hours each workout? I’m just looking for a big number. Should it be in the area of a year, or should it be more like 3 years, or maybe 5 years? Assume the gloves are left to dry property and not abused by sunlight or harsh cleaners. Assume also that the price of the gloves is around $50 which is what your standard issue Title, Everlast, yada gloves sell for.

The reason I ask is because I purchased some gloves and the leather on the palm is disintegrating after about 18 months of very light use. The manufacturer is telling me the gloves should only last a year. What is the opinion here please? And if you don’t mind, please post your actual experience with gloves you’ve owned in the past.

A great pair of gloves can last years. $50 is pretty much cheap consumer gloves. If you don’t like your gloves, buy another brand and preferably buy a well-known brand. I have several articles on this site talking about different gloves and how I felt about them.

Hello, I am a boxer of them about 185. I want to buy a good pair of sparring gloves but I’m undecided on the size. My hand is not very big and my wrists have had a few injuries over the years. it would be better to take 16 oz or 18 oz? thank you

1) My doughters are 5 years old and i was kind of considering getting them to train light and have fun with me what do you think of TITLE CLASSIC KID & YOUTH GLOVES?

i am about to start training again, im (125 lb and 5.8) with really skinnyskelltal structure, small hands ,wrist. long arms.. etc. i have read your article and all replys considering similar weights.

i was thinking of getting 14oz despite the damge that it might cause on me or my sparring partner cause i dont think my fist will generate a KO blow or hurt them even if i use my whole body force momentum simply because the wight differnce between us is really wide,, might spar with guys weighting 190lb.. of course they will go really light! with me !!

I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with the fighting sports hybrid bag/sparring gloves. I’m looking for a pair of gloves mostly for bag work and some light sparring and would prefer not to have to buy 2 pair of gloves. I need gloves in the 16-20oz range. I’m looking for info on durability of the foams for going from bag work to sparring, basically if it’ll stand up to the bag work. I also would like to know physical size and fit in the hand pocket as i cannot find any around to try on.

My wife is 4 8″, about 100 lbs and dropping, baby hands. She uses 12 oz Title gel bag/sparring gloves for bag and mitts. Her trainer spends 50 percent of the time on defense and wants a physically smaller glove to use exclusively for that. I thought a 12 oz professional Ringside fighting glove might be a good option. Any suggestions? Dig the site by the way, a lot of good thoughtful reading on boxing.

when sparring in headgear or without you face a very high risk to get a strong punch on the head and get permanent brain damage… if you still do try to get a good insurance before.. but if come to ask such a question why would you need to spar at all? go to lift weights to a gym and eat various powders, and you will look like Rambo without risking to damage your brain, or go to aikido or krav maga classes – those are also safe for civilized people.

Hi-just bought a wave master for my house and need gloves. I’m 5’0 female with super small hands and wrists. I just plan on boxing for cardio at home and building strength and endurance. I’m on a budget, but want to protect my hands and wrists. I’m thinking 12 or 14 oz, but undecided on brand or type. I saw a pair of ringside econo bag gloves but unsure of how good those might be. Any suggestions? Thank you!

I realized when I said before that I can hit heavy bags bare-fisted and my hands don’t hurt, it’s probably because I have no power behind my punches. I throw ‘em straight, just probably not with much power.

whats the best way to take care of the gloves, you know to keep them from cracking? Because i bought some Grant boxing gloves and they’re already cracking and i haven’t had them for more than two months.

Hey jhonny i have a question about my knuckles, they hurt really bad after hitting the punching bag and i have new handwraps and plus that i add some gause for more protection in my knuckles, i weight 150 and i use 16 Oz gloves

I bought some Everlast Wristwrap gloves awhile back (the TERRIBLE ones you warned about not purchasing) for bag use, and I’m looking to get new ones to replace them. I purchased them ‘on the fly,’ as I didn’t like using the community gloves at my gym. Looks like your update says that bag gloves ARE recommend by yourself and I was wondering what pair to get.

I’ve narrowed it down to Title, Ringside, and Rival: leaning towards the Rival Ultra Bag Gloves, and I’ll pick up some 16oz sparring gloves at some point down the road when I join a boxing gym. For now, I’m 5’11”, 175 lbs. For bag-use only, should I purchase 12oz or 14oz? The crappy Everlasts I own are 14oz…

Any other input on a specific pair to pick up with the brands I mention above?

Read the guide and pick the glove size I recommend for your body weight. If you want to use a different weight, it’s up to you. The brands will come down to preference. Each brand has different models that may vary in quality, performance, and personal comfort.

Hey Johnny!
Thanks for the article- it’s making a bit more sense with how gloves work and all of that. However, I need to second guess myself to make sure I know what I need when it comes to boxing.
I’ve always had an interest in it, you know, the moves, agility, strategy. I got to try it out a few times on the punching bag at the gym I go to and now I know I -really- like it. Though I carry this great interest in it, I would much rather use boxing in my ~workouts~ rather than be competative with it or on sparrs (Dad won’t allow for it, hah).
Enough of my blabbing! Where should I start with selecting my first pair of gloves? I’m female, 5’4, 135 lbs. My wrists are reasonably thin, however my palms are a bit wide!

Hey Johnny i am just looking for a glove for me to hit my 80 lb bag with. just for workouts and such. I weigh around 180, i am 6 ft tall. I do have smaller sized hands. Its not super easy for me to go somewhere and try gloves on. What would you recommend? also, would you recommend i use wraps? will using it max once daily really get on my hands with thick gloves. If so which types of wraps. Thanks man your write up on gloves is great.

Hi! I’ve read over this article, and many of your other ones. They’ve been very helpful, especially the brand one.
I do still have a question, though, after reading this. For sparing gloves, you say generally it will be 16 oz unless you’re under 120 pounds. If you are under that 120, do you recommend 14 oz or would 16 still be better? I’m small, only 100 pounds (and a female with small wrists), so I was curious if you think one size would be better based on the weight, or if 16 oz would still be the go to?
Thank you! I appreciate it.

I realize my questions sounds kind of stupid. Let me clarify a bit, I know it depends on what fits the best, I’m just wondering if there is a “oz goal” (if it would be that much better to have 14 vs 12 or 16 or whatnot). Thanks again.

Hey Johnny,
I’m looking to get some bag gloves (mostly for heavy bag) and I was wondering if I should get 12oz bag gloves or 16oz training gloves. Which would you recommend? Also what’s the difference in sizes for 12oz bag gloves? Does the X-large offer more protection?
Thanks man!

I am new to boxing/kickboxing and I am trying to figure out the right gloves. I am a 135 lb. WOMAN. I don’t see a lot of information online about women’s gloves vs. men’s gloves. The brands that do sell them (Century, Everlast) are not the “best” brands. Is this just marketing? Are men’s gloves appropriate for me to use? I was thinking 14 ox. sparring gloves. I eventually want to get into real sparring, but am only on the bag right now.

Also, I meant to ask advice about “angle support” gloves. I fractured my wrist when I was young and it healed improperly so I always need to protect it a little more (I can’t even do push-ups with my palm out, I have to make a fist). Should I look at angle support gloves?

The wrist protection comes from your handwrap. The padding on the glove will help. I’m not sure what “angle support” feature you’re talking about but you’ll have to try it and see if it helps your particular situation.

Johnny, 65 y.o, 157lbs, 66inches. Looking to hit a heavy bag 3 times a week for exercise and cardio. What kind of Gloves, wraps needed, also have small hands. Can I order on line, or try them on? Where on line or store to buy. I’m located in Clifton NJ 07102. Appreciated whatever you can offer. Also if you can copy your comments to my email address. God Bless you. Richard

Hi, great article. I just wanted to ask a question of very very daft proportions. First of all, i’m not rich, and I can’t afford to spend £80 on a pair of gloves for a sport I may not keep up with, can you recommend a good brand which isn’t too expensive?

Also I’m currently far from fight shape, and honestly doubt I ever will fight, but anyway, currently I weigh in at 176lb. I’m aiming to lose weight until I’m down to 170lb or below. What size gloves would you recommend I grab? originally I had been thinking about getting 16oz, but since looking at this I’ve actually started wondering about the illusive 18oz / 20oz gloves instead.

If it helps, I’m more a hard hitter than a speed hitter. Anyway yeah thanks in advance for any response, and this article seems pretty darn good.

Hey Johnny! Great site. I am training for an up and coming fight. We have 2 trainers in our gym. One of them says that i should do everything with a pair of 16oz gloves, including bagwork, focus mitts, double end bag and sparring so that i could get used to the weight. While the other trainer on our gym tells me that i should do everything with 14oz to keep my hands light. I am 5’5 tall and weigh 118lbs, male, but i do punch pretty hard. I am just worried that using those bigger gloves might ruin my form and technique. What do you think? I would appreciate your feedback

Bigger gloves are not gonna ruin your form and technique. Being that you are in the 118lb range, I can definitely understand the clash of opinion. Both of your trainers are correct and valid. I would probably put you on 14oz with everything but yes, 16oz is the general standard for lightweight males. You’re a really small weight so I guess you can do with less.

im a short girl with small hands but weigh 180+. starting to do muaythai but i dont know what gloves to buy. too many ads and im confused what to choose? I’m doing Muay thai for workout purposes and as a sport. What weight would i need to get? i get confused with the weight recommendations above because i may be heavy but my hands are small and im also short around 5 feet 1 inch in height.

Help with gloves
Hey I am planning on joining a proper boxing gym and need some advice on what gloves to get. I am a beginner and weigh 154 lbs (11 stone). I have a heavy bag in my garage and some crapy lonsdale gloves which have now started to rip apart. I am initially planning on doing bag work, pad work and then move onto sparring. Price is not an issue. What type/brand/weight of gloves would you recommend? I was told 120z gloves and have been looking at the Grant training gloves, but have also heard Winning are good. Also do the gloves come in one size? How will I know they fit without trying them on as I can only find places selling them online?

I do have a legitimate question about boxing gloves that I don’t feel like reading through 350+ comments to see if someone answered, lol. But as a person makes their way through say the boxing or mma ranks and their training or fights intensifies or increases, how many sets of gloves should a fighter have?

Like a pair just for competition and another for training? Or multiple training pairs for depending on the type of training? And do grappling gloves fit into your recommendations anywhere? I’ve basically got one pair for Muay Thai training and they are the 16oz variety, obviously I can’t use those for bjj or grappling.

I’m 6’2 and weight approximately high 190 – low 200 on any given day. I’m looking to spend my money wisely and pick up a dedicated pair of gloves for sparring and another set for bag/mitts. What size gloves (oz) would you recommend for both? I also will be grabbing a face saver headset for the gym since most of the guys I spar are around my size and can throw heat and I have to go to work without looking like a got in a bar brawl the night before. Money aside, could you also recommend specific brands for both the gloves and headgear that i should be taking a serious look at.

I like how no one in here says anything about winnings. Oh and the fighting gloves rip inside very easily. Grant gloves are very similar to Reyes sparring gloves in the sense that they don’t protect your hands. Plus the grants thumb is different from other gloves. Ringside are actually pretty nice and so are title but again rip inside. Everlast has shitty thumb protection and the leather is cheap and tears. Winning is hands down the best glove you’ll ever get.

I’m a 105-110 lb female who’s just starting at a Muay Thai, Brazilian jiujitsu and MMA gym soon and I was wondering what brand of gloves would be best as well as if the glove size makes a difference because of my weight?

Hi Johnny,
I bought my self a pair of pro training gloves from ringside, they are amazing really, I’ve never had such great gloves. But I wanted to ask if this is good as an amateur because when during competition you have to wear the amateur gloves it is a complete different thing. Before I only had shitty amateur gloves from everlast for training which didn’t last for a year. So is it good to train with pro gloves?

Hey Johnny. I recently started boxing again after years of being dormant. I am 5’7″ and around 135 pounds.. planning on gaining to fight middleweight in gg. Anyway, im basing most of my training on speed bc I don’t have the weight for extreme power. So I am looking at the rival brand I like the snugness of them… I usually do heavy bag work so I am wondering if I need to go with the 14 ounce gloves or the 12 ounce gloves.. I am leaning more toward the 12 since I have quite small hands and fingers.. but I wanted your opinion.. what do you think about this?
and thank you

I would recommend the most expensive ones. If you’re going to buy cheap stuff, might as well save your money and use the community ones at the gym. The problem with many cheap gloves is that their padding goes flat quickly.

The only straight answer I have for you is what I said in the article. Read it and follow it as a standard guideline. If you want to do something different, that’s on you.

You telling me that you want to gain weight to fight at middleweight doesn’t explain anything. If you’re looking to fight at bigger weight classes, you might as well use heavier gloves to fight against heavier guys. But then you say you’re basing your training on speed, which doesn’t make sense because heavier guys are slower and you should already be faster than them.

Then you’re asking about 14oz vs 12oz gloves when I already explained the recommended glove weights in the article. Then you say you like somebody else’s gloves. Well this makes no sense because I’m willing to bet that person is not a 135lb-er trying to fight at middleweight. I’m willing to bet he doesn’t have the same goal you do….which then means it doesn’t matter much that you like his gloves.

I don’t know what you’re doing and I don’t understand it and I don’t have a straight answer for such an uncommon situation. You can either do what I recommend in the article, or you can do whatever you want.

Hey Johnny,
Found out about your website 2 weeks ago and been reading a lot on it. Really good article and your tips are quite good and well explained, it already helped me in my boxing thanks!

I found this article today and well even if you say that now the bag gloves are somehow better than they used to be I was wondering if you think it would be a good idea to still buy a 16oz pair of gloves? I’m using the rb50 Rival Bag gloves and they are good quality for bag gloves but in the last month I’ve been going to train more often and for the last 2 weeks my left hand start to hurt a little bit (nothing really big or anything but just annoying sometime). So I was wondering if it would be a good idea to switch toward another pair of gloves to have more protection.

My last trainer told me that it wasn’t a good idea to use the same gloves for heavy bag and sparring so that’s why I bought the bag gloves in the first time (I wasn’t doing any sparring at that time). He was saying that the heavy bag would used to much the gloves and it wouldn’t be good enough for sparring after. So what do you think of this? You think the same gloves could be use for both heavy bag and sparring for a few years?

Great info – thanks! A little confused about bag versus sparring gloves… I know you said that bag gloves don’t offer enough protection, and sparring ones should be better for most people, but I am not seeing a lot of difference between the two categories – I was on the Ringside Website, and both categories looked pretty similar. I have been doing bagwork for about 6 months now and am finally ready to give up my freebie (crap) gloves for some nice ones, but want to make the right decision… I mostly do heavybag work (some speedbag too), but I am also training for a one-time amateur match. I will definitely be doing some sparring in preparation…

Right now I’m thinking 16 oz gloves (based on info from your article), in a smaller size for my smaller hands, but want to make sure I’m getting the right “category” of gloves too. Sparring gloves? Bag gloves? Would really like to invest in just one pair that will work for every situation. Sorry, hope this question makes sense!

Hey Johnny, I’m a 14 year old looking to get into boxing, due to my small frame I think boxing would be a great outlet besides the other sports i play,( football, basketball, and lacrosse.) I feel as if boxing will help me get into better shape and would be a great hobby. Anyway I’m currently using everlast hook and loop gloves 14oz . I’m 5’1-5’2 and 110-115 pounds are these gloves adequate for sparring mitt work and heavy bag? Thanks

How often do you retire a pair of gloves? I have been using the same pair of gloves on the heavy bag for over a year. The gloves feel the same, but does the padding wear out or get compacted over time to lose its cushioning effect? Lately, I am experiencing some numbness in my hands at night. Could also be that I’m just hitting the bag harder. I am 6’6″ tall and 275 lbs using 16 oz. gloves.

Unlike most of the ladies posting here, I actually am fairly tall (5′ 9″) and have large hands. My hand measures 8 from wrist to tip, with an 8.5 inch palm measurement. I work an angled bag and the pads…I like pop, but my focus is form and speed. I never intend to step in a ring, but the training is outstanding! Allowing for wraps forces me into a pretty big glove, and I struggle to find a comfortable fit. I have a decent pair of training gloves that work for rare power days, but my bag gloves that I preferred for speed and mobility drills are shot. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance, Johnny…love reading the articles and comments on your site.

I used to use bag mits until I threw an awkward punch that left me unable to train for 4 months. I am 5’11and weigh in over 250lb usually partner with the guy’s.(padwork only) and now never use anything less then 16oz gloves.I personally am quite happy to compromise speed for my hands in tact…. not that fast anyway lol . I too am in the market for some new gloves but half the brands aren’t available in Australia unless bought online. Have been eyeing the hayabusas and fitex but really have no idea lol

You’ll have to try different gloves, Kristi until you fine one you like. Try bigger gloves and/or also wrapping your hands in a neater way or using a thinner handwrap that doesn’t make your hand too bulky.

Kristi, I’ve been working exclusively with women of all ages, size and abilities for over 4 years and found the Ringside IMF training gloves are all-around the best so far. The girls really love them. Weight is up to you, we use 14 to 18 oz. at the Boxing Studio. As has been mentioned Title Platinum’s also do a great job. Also proper hand raping (180” mex. style) goes a long way. Also try using thin under rap with tape over before you put the hand raps on, for really good wrist support.

Hey I’m looking for a 16oz training/sparring glove with the most wrist support/protection. I’ve tried Title, Pro-Mex, and Fighting with no luck. Winning, Grant, and Reyes are out of price range. Ringside pro IMF has good reviews but not for wrist support. I know I pretty much eliminated most of the brands but I was wondering if anyone knew of a great glove for wrist support. Any suggestions?

Ringside IMF probably has the best wrist support out of the cheap brands. Fighting has good wrist support if you get the hook & loop ones with the thick strap that goes all the way around. But otherwise, you have to pay for a quality glove if you want a quality glove. I would say Grant has more wrist support than Winning and Reyes. ALSO…you might have to look into wrapping your hands different and using some white tape. Also check out your punching form.

Hey Johnny, im thinking about getting Casanovas what do you think about those have you tried them?
I have Cleto Reyes for sparring for about 3 years and trying to get new gloves. What would you recommend me? Im 125 18 years old and have 14oz the Pro Mex Training gloves from TITLE should i get 16oz instead?

I buy gloves using weights (8/10/12/14/16/etc) not sizes (S,M,L,XL). It’s also not about hand-size for me. You can read the guide to determine what glove weight you need depending on the type of training you’ll be using it for.

hi Just wondering if anyone make a womens 16oz? ive used the mens ones at the gym (unstrapped) and they were loose, should I go a smaller size? or use womens ones… or mens 16.. I don’t like all the pink on womens gloves that’s all, thanks

Earlier you stated you weren’t a fan of bag gloves. I saw in more recent posts that the padding on sparring gloves may wear down faster than bag gloves. Do you now recommend a pair of each? I am just wondering as I don’t want to hit my sparring partners with gloves that give me an unfair advantage or injure anyone. Thanks again in advance

Hey. Thanx for all the advice by the way u are like a second coach. I’m 135 5’4″ and kinda strong last time I sparred with a 150 pounder with 14 oz gloves on I broke his jaw so I use a pair of 16 oz rivals for everything mitt work bag work and sparring. But my real questions is what is your take on weighted glove like the title or fighting sports ones and the pros and cons of using them

I bought a 10 oz gloves thinking it would be okay for training. The sales guy said so, too. Now I know I was duped. To think I’m trying my best to save in order to pay for the sessions. Now I have to buy a 16 oz

hey johnny i got a question. ive been boxing for 3 or 4 months now and wanted some new gloves. the gloves i use are pbs pro gloves or pro boxing supplies there 12oz which they told me was ok for my size. do you have any good brands i can check out? i know for my weight i think ill need to buy 16oz gloves but I’m dropping weight i used to weigh 260 now i weigh 225 226. thanks!

Johnny, I am buying my first pair of boxing gloves, we have a heavy bag in the gym and my routine has me using it. I am 200lb, a complete beginner to the boxing, and would be looking for a good glove to protect my hands and wrists for training purposes. can you give me any suggestions? Thanks sir

Hi Johnny. Are training gloves suitable to use for the heavy bag. I am having trouble finding a 16ounce bag glove. I can only really find 14ounce bag gloves. I currently use a pair of 14 ounce Mexican style gloves and I am experiencing a lot of wrist pain, so I am very keen to upgrade to 16 ounce gloves.

Hi. My 13 year old son has asked for boxing equipment for Christmas. I encourage any gift that requires exercise over video games. I know nothing about boxing and would love some input. He is 5 feet tall. Weighs around 85-90 lbs. He has no experience boxing. He is physically fit due to soccer and running. I was thinking of getting him a 40 lb bag on a stand with an anchor. I have no idea what size gloves to get him. My fear is that he will not know how to hit and he will hurt his hands. After reading the above comments, I am realizing that selecting gloves isn’t as easy as small, medium or large. I will show him your site and all of the advice (I love that I found this site. Thanks). What is your opinion for a beginner regarding bags and gloves? Thanks in advance, Samantha

14oz gloves would be a good start for your son. As for a heavy bag, an 80lb heavy bag hung from the ceiling is better than one hung from a stand. The reason being that it’s not as fun or effective for boxing training if your bag can’t swing freely and you can’t move around the bag.

Hi Johnny…thank you for making this site! I have been so confused on what gloves, ounce, brand, type, etc. I should buy until I finally found your site. I’m 5’1, female, approx. 110 and have very small hands and wrist. I kept looking for 10 oz gloves but didn’t want pink or flowers on them. I finally ordered the Rival high performance 12 oz only because I didn’t want pink. I am relieve to find out that I picked the right brand and ounces and it’s the wrap that supports the wrist noth the glove. Thank you for also explaining the importance of wrapping my hands as that is some thing I never do. I tried to read most of the comments but started feeling bad for you that you kept having to repeat yourself and refer back to the article you already wrote. It was like being school again….lol. You are a very patient and generous man! Just one request ….where can I go to or who can I talk to about boxing suppliers making other colors than pink for women. From this posting and others, and even for myself….women don’t want to buy pink and will spend more money to avoid it. The “man’s world” need to understand that we want to be able to buy just as many colors and clothes that men have. We want to look hot too when we’re training…LOL. Just as men don’t want to wear or use equipments that are pink….women don’t either! I think if anyone can help me or direct me, it would be you

Hi Johnny N! First, THANK YOU for taking the time to publish all this info! I’ve been training with a friend for a few years now, and I’ve been using those wimpy bag gloves (with hand wraps) which came with his heavy bag all this time, and my right hand is messed up (I was going on the “old-school” training paradigm).
I know you favour Ringside gloves for the heavy bag (I DID read your articles!). I’m planning on acquiring Ringside Molded Foam Gloves (16 oz) from Dick’s Sporting Goods (the only retailer around who carries them). Does this specific make and model have your favourable recommendation?
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into publishing this great info!

hey johnny, love the website. Im just starting to learn boxing and need to get my own gloves (cant stand using stinky, sweaty, loaner gloves) cant see myself sparring for quite a while, so can you recommend me a nice glove and size for training/heavy bag work. im really looking for a durable, well padded glove that will protect my hands the best for up to maybe $80……i’m around 165 lbs

Hi ,
I have recently started MMA training. Its been 6 months and I am on the basics of boxing. In one of my sparring session with my partner , I got a ligament injury when I was delivering a Left and right hook consequently. I hit is elbow and my Glove , which eventually was a MMA glove with thumb having no safeguard and no padding , suffered injury.
I had to call off the training for 1 month and it was really painful. Now after reading your articles , I have planned to purchase a glove from TITLE .

My weight is 175 LBS . My boxing gloves need to be well cushioned especially to the thumb area so that I don’t end up getting the injury again and provoking it.

we practise on Punch Mitts , And heavy MMA /Muay Thai Bags as well as most of the times we practise with a partner.

Whats the difference between Genuine leather and Syntek leather for shin guards? I only say shin guards because thats the only time I’ve seen Syntek leather so far, and I’m not sure if I want to get Syntek shins when the rest of my gear is Genuine leather. or does it even really matter?

Hi, I am a 5’4 female, around 116 pounds. Intermediate kickboxer, currently using my clubs’ gloves which are 14oz, feel fine but slightly on the loose side, using these without wraps mind you. Mainly doing pad work and light sparring atm. Debating between the 12oz and 14oz, will be adding wraps obviously once I get them.

I understand that Everlast and even Century are known as ” generuc” even though they do make some good products. Century’s Wavemaster series of free standing bags are extremely popular and well-received, found in homes & gyms (for punching & kicking).

What do you think is the better of the three above-mentioned? (I know Ringside and Title both manufscture their own durable reflex bags, but, I’m not too interested in purchasing them right now).

Also, is it absolutely essential to wrap the hands before any workout, even for light punching/cardio bag workout?

I’m female, weigh 130lbs., and have smallish wrists. I presume I would need 12oz S/M well-padded sparring/training gloves. Am looking at Everlast’s slightly more expensive versions and especially like Title’s. Will be going to a fitness store to try out several gloves, look at equipment and such before I buy.

The Wavemaster cardio is probably the better option and more fun for you. But all 3 options pale in comparison to being able to train at a gym and switch between a wider variety of bags throughout the session.

I do bag and pad work twice a week and am hoping to move onto sparring in a few months. I see you recommend 16oz for sparring but wondered if the bag work will gradually flatten the padding in the 16ozs? So should I get one pair for bag/pads and another pair for sparring? I’m confused as keep reading contradicting advice!

You’re supposed to wrap your hands and then use whatever glove size you need, 14oz or 16oz. The gloves are not required to fit your hand perfectly. It’s also not likely to find a good all-in-one glove.

Hi Johnny, I am new to boxing but love it. I’m 150 pounds and am about 5’10. I am looking into tri-tech 16 oz training gloves. Should I get “Training Gloves,” or a different type? Some confusion here, a reply would be much appreciated!

hi i’m 156.528lbs what oz gloves should i use to improve my hand speed, because i want to improve my hand speed, i have been using 14oz gloves for training until now but can i use a heavier glove for training?

What’s up Johnny. I’m a 29 yr old amateur boxer. I have been looking for a good pair of bag gloves . I have a 14 oz pair of “Fighting Tri-tech lace ups” and they are very comfortable. I only use them for sparring because I know if I use them on the heavy bags I will wear them out faster. And I’m referring to wear n tear on the exterior. I also have a pair of “Ringside IMF Pro Style Tech-training gloves which I use for sparring also. I recently ordered a pair of “Lonsdale Pro Bag Gloves” . When I made the order for these Lonsdales the sizing chart only had s,m and l ,xl sizes so I went with the xl. To my disappointment they were too tight on my hands , even without hand wraps. They feel extremely light and from my guesstimation I would say they weight about 10 to 12 ounces. This really sucks for me because I am 5’11 and weigh 150 lbs and I have pretty big hands. I was wondering if you ever tried the “Tuff-wear Pro Air boxing Gloves” from the title store? I bought a pair of “Title Classic Leather Bag Gloves” about 6 months ago but they seemed to have gone flat on the knuckle part due to lots of bag work and they started hurting my knuckles. Please help me find a good bag glove . I am on a tight budget rite now and I can not spend more than 75$ . I am interested in getting the “Tuff-wear” bag gloves. They look legit and comfy

I’ve recently started boxing mainly to lose weight. I am 5’3 and 160 pounds. My trainer told me to buy 10oz gloves but we use 12oz at the gym (they only carry 12 or 16). If I understand your articles correctly, I should be using 16oz?

You can do whatever you want. If your trainer has already checked you out and figure that 10oz is better for you, go ahead and try the 10oz. I think it’s best to start off a trainer relationship by trying what he says.

Hi I am a 32 yr old male & have been boxing for just over a yr, I have been using 10oz gloves when training (bag work) & everytime i try to use different 12/14oz i tend to feel more pain in my right hand middle finger which is my hitting hand. I need a new pair of gloves but confused on what size I should get? I weight 80kilos approx 160-170 lb.

Hello Johnny, I went for my first boxing training session and afterwards I had small bruises around both hands little fingers knuckle – nothing major…. just thought maybe the gloves were too big!? Unfortunately there not many women training at that gym so they only had one pair I could try. If possible could you recommend brand and size for me please? It’s only for training – I don’t think I’ll be doing sparring. I weigh 50 kg/110 lbs Thank you – would really appreciate if you could reply

Hi I’ve been using 10 oz gloves that have fallen apart after a few years of gentle sparring and pad/bagwork so I need to get some new gloves – I’ve got a couple of questions

firstly I’ve had a wrist injury for a while that’s better now – will heavier gloves help protect against future injury – I’m thinking of going up to 12oz gloves will this help, or will the protection be minimal?

secondly – Is it best to opt for leather gloves over synthetic, or again is the difference minimal? Some of the ones I’m looking at are made from mesh type material?

Hi people I’m thinking of purchasing some ‘twins special’ gloves, probably 14oz for bag work, sparring and focus pad work – has anyone used twins and are they any good ? (They’ll be about £60) and secondly what wraps would people recommend ? I’ve previously just been using reading gloves but having read lots of the posts on here I’m getting myself sorted with some proper kit now – thanks in advance

Im 191 pounds 5’10 and i have a 4 foot bag … i wanted your advice as to what gloves should i use… as i am hurting my knuckles and wrists…. my knuckles are swollen… i got internal bleeding in my knuckles… and my wrists hurt… due to the heavy power shots on the bag…. please advice me for good padded boxing gloves which protects my hands…. and that i can get in india …. please tell me the company and the exact gloves i should use.

i searched on the net and i can get lonsdale and everlast if any other company gloves you would like to recommend…. pls tell me the exact gloves i need to buy… right now i am using jim bradley deluxe gloves accompanied with cotton inners and wristband… but still im having problems… please advice asap.

i used hand wraps… still it was no use… therefore let me know what gear i should use.

I have a rather large fighter 300 plus lbs. with xtra large hands, he has a pro fight coming up with 10 oz gloves. We are looking for a manufacturer that makes an 2x large 10 oz glove or some thoughts on how to best fit his very large hands…

I am a complete beginner with this…I have a heavy bag in my basement and I don’t know which size gloves to get. I won’t be sparring or doing competitions. I am 5’9 and weigh a little over 130lbs. I want to develop speed and power along with proper form. Which size should I get?

I just want to say that you should NEVER use the same gloves for bag work as you do for sparring. Once a glove is used on the bag, the padding starts to wear down and offers less protection to your opponent in sparring. As well, if you hit the bag with a glove it can create micro tears in the material on the knuckle and then you risk cutting your opponent.
All in all, if you are serious about sparring you should invest in a pair of gloves specifically for that purpose.

As well, you do not need to buy fight gloves, as this article states. In amateur boxing the fight gloves are supplied by the show that you are fighting on.

Hi
What gloves are the biggest? Which would you recommend for big hands (long fingers) of tall person.
I live in Ireland and unfortunately selection of gloves in local shops is terrible so I will have to buy online.
Now I have PRO gloves they fit well but they are close to an end of their lifespan. I’ve tried TWINS but they felt to small, especially my thumbs was piercing through.

P.S. It’s the best website about boxing I’ve visited so far. Good job!

I’m currently using 14oz gloves since I’m around 154lbs. My problem is, the gloves are perfect in length, they my fingers and thumbs touch the end of the padding. But there is almost an inch around the width between my palm and the glove. And this causes my hand to move around a bit.

What can I do to rectify the issue? Is there some kind of inner or extra padding I can insert?

I am 135lbs and I’ve been thinking about some 14oz Reyes trainings gloves for bag and mitt work not sparring I just hear bad things when it comes to reyes and training. Would u suggest a differnet glove for training or would the reyes made for training still be protective enough

Hi, Fighting Sports Tri-Tech® Bag Gloves (16 oz) are OK for sparring? When I bought them in a store they said those are sparring gloves, but now I see that they are actually “bag” gloves… a bit confused.

What a great site…I took a break during the holidays from working out..when I came back to the gym after New Years, they installed two huge big bags…they must be 20 ft high…I got excited..I did a little boxing in college over 50 years ago…I’m 72 years old…No aches and pains..still run and pump iron…I’m in Am. Samoa on my sailboat….I read your 10 tips on the big bag… There was a store over here selling sports equipment. You got to remember this is a small island in the mid Pacific…I was going to buy some Everlast training glove but reading your article..I decided I wanted Title gloves…I went on line to Title ready to check out..they didn’t ship here..Went to Amazon They wanted $30.00 shipping..Went to E Bay and got a great pair of red and white brand new infused gel training gloves for fifty buck with only eight bucks shipping..for awhile I’ll probably be the ONLY one on the big bag..until the other “Young kids catch on”..you know the high school 20 and 30 crowd…nice kids here at T.J. Gym.

My father was a Golden Glove boxer in New York…in the 1920’s That was his sport..He taught me how to box .as a kid..I’ve seen all the greats as a kid on TV…My father neve3r missed a fight.. Joe Lewis…Joe Walcott…Ezzard Charles…Sugar Ray Robinson would stop his pink Cadillac and give us kids candy in NY..Gene Fulmer. Yama Bahama.Rocky Marciano, Rocky Grazziano, Floyd Patterson and of course Casius Clay.. AKA M. Ali in his prime..Sonny Liston… Joe Frazier…on and on then in the 80’s.. Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns..on up to the present..saw all the greats..Look foward to getting my gloves, throwing a few punches and reading more of your great articles… still can do 100 push ups under 5 minutes..200 stomach crunches a piece of cake..Maybe get back doing some rope work..and talk them into a speed bag..been awhile on that…Keep up the good work

Wrapping hands is always a must,
Hands are important just like everything.. You only get 1 set of them.

I myself use Crepe bandages and wraps plus tape and my hands still hurt after training, I also use elbow supports too.

Gloves wise I vary but mainly padding I use 16oz everlast lace up gloves they seen a nice fit with good protection, I always have 12oz grants but I only use them to “test” speed and combination punches onces every now and then.

As far as heavy bag goes I do hit the heavy bag with heavy power shots and combos but no big wild swings.. keep everything nice and tight.

The best thing to do is try out different gloves and equipment to see what is comfortable for you, some gloves hurt my thumb with the position they are and some wraps are not soft and stretchy enough for me.